Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescawhite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Wescawhite’, characterized by its cascading and uniform growth habit; freely branching habit and short internodes; dense and bushy plant form; relatively small leaves; medium-sized flowers; and numerous white-colored flowers with violet-colored venation and circumorbital ring.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Wescawhite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Wescawhite’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa identified as code number 01P442, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa identified as code number 01P432, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 2002 in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany as a single plant within the resulting progeny from the cross-pollination.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Südlohn, Germany since 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Wescawhite have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wescawhite’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wescawhite’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Cascading and uniform growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit and short internodes, dense and bushy         appearance.     -   3. Relatively small leaves.     -   4. Medium-sized flowers.     -   5. Numerous white-colored flowers with violet-colored venation         and circumorbital ring.

Plants of the cultivar Wescawhite can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection had light blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescawhite can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had narrower stems than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection had light blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa cultivar Carillon White, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Carillon White in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had lighter green-colored stems         than plants of the cultivar Carillon White.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had sessile leaves whereas         plants of the cultivar Carillon White had leaves with petioles.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Carillon White         differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Wescawhite’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Wescawhite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and for the following description were grown under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Südlohn, Germany. Plants were about 20 weeks from planting rooted cuttings and grown in containers. During the production of the plants, the day temperatures ranged from 20 to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 50,000 lux.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Wescawhite. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp.             identified as 01P442, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp.             identified as 01P432, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 18 to 20 days at 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 20 to 28 days at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and             well-branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; cascading; uniform, rounded             appearance, plants eventually become spherical in overall             shape. Freely branching with lateral branches forming at             every node. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and             patio containers.         -   Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About             12 cm.         -   Plant length (from soil level to lateral branches             apices).—About 60 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 75 cm.         -   Stem description.—Main branches, length: About to 55 to             60 cm. Main branches, diameter: About 2.2 mm. Lateral             branches, length: About 16.5 cm. Lateral branches, diameter:             About 1 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Strength: Strong, wiry. Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Before flowering,             alternate; after flowering, opposite; simple; sessile.             Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 8.5 mm. Shape: Elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly             flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent.             Venation: Pinnate. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface:             146A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 146B. Fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A; midvein, 147B. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B; midvein, 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Medium-sized flowers; flowers face             upright or outward; single, axillary. Flowers not             persistent. Freely flowering with flowers forming at every             axil.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn;             flowering continuous.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one week.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3.2 cm. Depth (height): About             1.9 cm. Tube length: About 1.4 cm. Throat diameter, distal             end: About 9 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 3.4 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Towards the base, 1C, venation, 166A;             mid-section, 82C, venation, 166A; towards the apex, 155B,             venation, 166A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five             petals, fused into flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.4 cm. Petal width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate with rounded to slightly acute apex. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, satiny. Color: Petal, when opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Lighter than N155D; circumorbital ring, 86B;             venation, 86A. Color becoming closer to 158D with             development. Petal, when opening and fully opened, lower             surface: N155D; venation, N77A. Flower throat (inside): 12B;             venation, N77A. Flower tube (outside): 11C to 11D; venation,             N77A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals,             star-shaped. Length: About 1.45 cm. Width: About 3.2 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 0.9 mm.             Strength: Flexible, wiry. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Anther shape: Four-parted, ovate. Anther length: About 2 mm.             Anther diameter: About 1.5 mm. Filament length: About 5 mm.             Filament color: 145C. Anther color: 8B. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: 8B. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Ovate. Stigma             color: 144A. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 144C.             Ovary color: 144C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been     observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 2 to 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescawhite’, as illustrated and described. 